[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Wayne A

I know this is asking a lot, but i feel ive gone the wrong way and i should have done this first. Ok what i wanted to do was move my purchased music and cistom playlists to a folder BEFORE deleting the whole contents of my library. Is there any way i can get all my music back into my library, as this will then anble me to do the backup

http://playlistmag.com/help/2004/09/...unes/index.php

Symptom: There's no music in your iTunes library when there should be.

Cure 1: Rebuild your music library by creating a new iTunes database file. To do so, follow these steps.

1. Quit iTunes if it's running.

2. Locate the iTunes 4 Music Library file (or iTunes 3 Music Library file, if you're using that version of iTunes).

On a Macintosh you'll find this file in the iTunes folder within the music folder inside your user folder (~/Music/iTunes).

On a Windows PC this file is found within the iTunes folder inside your user's My Music file (or, more specifically, C:\Document and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes, where "username" is your user name -- bubba, for example).

3. Add "(old)" to the iTunes Music Library file's name (without the quotes, please) -- iTunes 4 Music Library (old), for instance. If there's already a file with that name, append "(old1)" to the name.

4. Launch iTunes. When you do so, a new database file will be built and everything should be hunky dory.

Cure 2: Be sure that your iTunes Music folder is where iTunes thinks it is.

On a Macintosh, the iTunes Music folder is kept in this location by default: ~/Music/iTunes.

The default location on a Windows PC is: C:\Document and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes.

In the Advanced tab of iTunes' preferences, you can change this default location. If you've done so and haven't moved your music files, no songs will appear in iTunes library.

Cure 3: Add your songs again.

If you can locate your music files by rummaging around on your hard drive but iTunes seems dead set against showing them, use the Add to Library command in the File menu to find your music and add it again. Before doing so, open the Advanced tab of iTunes' preferences and make sure that the Copy Files to iTunes Music Folder When Adding to Library option is unchecked. With this option unchecked, song titles will be added to iTunes without the songs themselves being copied to the iTunes Music folder.